Vlog: Trying To Lose Weight When You Have Chronic Health Issues

To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you burn off.  That's it.  The healthy weight loss rate is one to two pounds per week.  Yes, that may seem minuscule, but it really isn't.  There are 3500 calories in each pound of fat.  In a year, you could lose, if needed, 52-104 pounds!  Those measly couple pounds don't seem too shabby now, do they?  To lose weight more efficiently, do the following in concert with each other: 


EXERCISE

• First of all, contact your doctor or medical team to see if you can exercise, what exercises you can and can't do, any limitations or contraindications and so on.  Everyone is different, so you need to ask.  And, you need to start exercising s
• Then, pick the exercises that are fun for you.  If they're enjoyable, you may have an easier time sticking to your workouts.  You may include strength, endurance, flexibility, stabilization, body weight, and balance exercises in your workout program.  The type, duration, intensity, number of days per week done, sets, and repetitions are dependent upon your specific health condition.
•  From those exercises that are fun, choose exercises you can do physically. 
• Get exercise equipment to use at home.  Look for sales at sporting goods stores and discount stores locally and online.  Buy what is right for you:  dumbbells, exercise bands, a treadmill, an arm/hand cardio machine, steppers, weighted balls, etc.
• Join a gym/fitness center.  Exercise classes and equipment can also be found at senior centers.
• Another option is to work with a certified personal trainer in their own studio, at a gym, or at a fitness center.
• Exercise with friends or family for the fun and accountability of it.

NUTRITION

Nutrition has a huge part in weight loss.  Calories in<Calories out=Weight loss.  Exercise is also important for flexibility, endurance, and generally good physical health, but you can't out-exercise a bad diet.

Here are some tips to help you get your food intake in gear:

• Eat lean protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, veggies and fruits, healthy snacks
• Drink plenty of water  (this goes for when you're exercising too.  Stay hydrated!)
• Check with your doctor or medical team regarding any foods you shouldn't eat.  Anything that would increase your symptoms or your problems with the chronic health issues.
• Consult ad register dietitian for advice on meal plans and how to eat for your chronic health issues and weight loss.
• Eat smaller portions.
• Eat slowly and mindfully.
• When cravings come along, don't act on them right away.  Wait a bit and distract yourself with a walk/wheel, a phone call to a friend, anything to get your mind off the craving long enough for it to disappear.
• Eat when you're hungry and leave the table when you are satisfied, not super full.
• Take time for healthy meals:  planning them, buying for them, cooking them, serving them, and eating them.  Make it a celebration!

Stress relief is also an important part of weight loss.  If you're nervous and stressed, you may go for sugary comfort foods more often thanks to increases in the stress hormone, cortisol.  Relieve stress with strategies such as increased communication with friends and loved ones, meditation, talking with your doctor about things that are troubling you, going to a counselor, and practicing time management.

Also, get plenty of sleep.  Everyone's different but go for 7 to 9 hours each night.  Sleeping too much or too little can affect appetite-stimulating hormones ghrelin and leptin.

For more information check out these links:

Mayo Clinic:  Is Too Little Sleep A Cause of Weight Gain? 

WebMD:  Can Stress Cause Weight Gain?

Sleep Foundation:  https://sleepfoundation.org  

NCHPAD.org:  Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with Disabilities

How to Work With Cients Who Have Chronic Conditions.(This is geared toward personal trainers, but has a lot of information on exercise guidelines for various health issues, so I thought it might be helpful)

Nutrition.gov  www.nutrition.gov/nutrtion-and-health-issues

Vlog: Dream, Imagine, Believe, Achieve

Happy Monday!  I hope your week is starting out well.

Today, I'd like to talk about my motto:  Dream, Imagine, Believe, Achieve.  

"Dream" is defined as, "something that you have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a long time;" or "a strong desire or purpose."  

That's one of my jobs as a coach--to help you make those dreams a reality.  Or close to it; as close as you possibly can come to that dream.  You may have to make some adjustments in your dream depending on your abilities or the nature of your chronic health issues, but you still can do a version of your dream.  Yes you can!  Is there something you've wanted to do, be or have for a very long time?  What is it?  If you can dream it, you can do it!  That's what Walt Disney said.  I'm here to help you make that dream come true.

"Imagine" is defined as, "to form a mental image of something not present."

Now, imagine that this dream is actually happening.  You're making a mental picture of exactly what you want to be doing.  You're doing it!  You're right there.  What will happen?  How does it feel?  What does it look like?  Who's there with you?  Dream it, then imagine it.  I can help you with that as well.  Imagine that you're actually there, doing what you'd love to do, being at the places you'd love to be, accomplishing the things that you'd love to accomplish.

"Believe" is defined as, "to accept or regard something as true."

You've got that image in your head of what you want to do.  Now, believe you can do it. Yes, believe you can do it.  And, I'm also here to help you in that endeavor--to believe in yourself.  Only you can do it, but I'm here to be your cheerleader, I'm here to be a part of your support system, that person who believes in you.  Now, you have to learn to believe in yourself.

"Achieve" is defined as, "to get or reach something by working hard, to become successful, to reach a goal."

You've made it!  You've reached your goal.  You've succeeded.  How would that sound to you?  How would that feel to you?  To have somebody say--to have me say--in our sessions, "You did it!  You're here!  You've made it!"  That can happen.  And I would love to be able to say that to you.  In order to achieve these things, these goals and dreams, you need to take action.  You can't just sit there and say that you want something or that you wish something would happen.  You need to take that action.  You can dream, of course; dreams are wonderful.  I did a lot of dreaming when I was younger, and still have some dreams.  But, in order to make them reality, you have to take that action.  

So, what do you have to do?  It's a lot of hard work, it could be a steep road ahead to make those dreams come true, but you have it in you.  I am a chronic health issues coach.  If you have chronic health issues, you are tough.  You know what it's like to work hard, because you have to work hard every day to even get out of bed in the morning, perhaps, and do the things you need to do to stay mobile, to stay healthy.  It can be very difficult.  If you can handle that, you can handle making your dreams come true.  Because they're awesome things that you want to do!    

So, set out to do anything that you need to do to make it happen.  As long as it's safe; as long as you've done your research; you're doing something that isn't dangerous for you.  It could be risky, but as long as it's not dangerous, it's worth going for--as long as you do the homework, as long as you do that research, as long as you can do this, and do it properly and safely, there's nothing you can't do.  You may have to make some adjustments here and there, but really, if you can dream it, you really can do it.  I fully believe that.

So, that's what I'm here for.  I'm here to guide you as you go for those dreams, and do the best that you can to make them happen--or something close to it.  I've talked about this before.  Say you want to be a basketball player, but you use a wheelchair.  You can still play wheelchair basketball.  So, go for that.  There are all sorts of things you can do, and I'm here to help you, or as close to it as you can.  They say, "Close, but no cigar?"  Well, you don't need that cigar.  Close is good!  If you can't do something exactly the way you want to do it, you can still do a form of it.  If you want to be a dancer, but you're in a wheelchair, you can still wheelchair dance!  If you want to be a scientist, you can be a scientist.  If you want to travel the world, you can travel the world.  You can do anything you set your mind to.  

And, I'm here to help you do just that.  To believe in yourself and make those dreams come true.  I can't do it for you, but I can cheer you on, and I will--the whole way through each coaching session.  If you work with me, I will be in your corner 110%, and help you through that journey of taking that dream and making it a reality.  

So, now you know a little bit about my motto.  I hope that you will consider working with me.  My email address is amy@acnlifecoach.com.  If you have any questions about this post or my coaching, just let me know.  Or you can comment below.  

Take care!  Catch you back here on Wednesday!

Vlog: Wellness

The definition of wellness according to The World Health Organization is, "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

What can you do to increase your wellness, your well-being?  Here are some ideas:

• be honest with yourself and others--if your friends can't understand your having to cancel plans, if your spouse resents your medical costs, if you just can't take your boss's attitude anymore, consider ending those relationships and finding new, more supportive ones.  Look inside and really think about it first, though.  Do what feels right for you and your health and well-being.
• be you--with no apologies!  You don't have to be rude to be real.  Just simply be yourself!
• keep up with your health maintenance--you need your health is thrive!
• maintain healthy relationships with your family, friends, coworkers, boss--everyone in your life--surround yourself with positive, supportive people who "get" you and challenge you in a good way.  They are your cheering section and have your back at all times.
• get regular wellness exams--super important!
• think outside the box:  Yes!  Explore, do stuff your own way, be different, celebrate new ideas and ways of doing things
• be creative--Yes!  Creative, expand your world, again, think of new ideas, refreshing ideas that make your heart sing, get involved in projects that you can disappear into, that you love!
• challenge yourself--Yes!  A good challenge is amazing to spark a sense of well-being!  You can do anything you set your mind to!
• expand your mind--think, learn, grow, experience different things, be open to different experiences!
• live by your values--be true to yourself and what you believe in!
• help out in your community--volunteer, make speeches, do outreach, spread awareness
• make a difference in a person's life--this can be big, small, somewhere in the middle.  Anything and everything counts and could make a huge impact on that person's life!
• care for your environment--your immediate environment at home, your town, your state, your country, the world.  That's up to you.  To make a difference is a great way to boost wellness!
• get good sleep--getting those zzzz's can make a huge difference in how you view your life and well-being!
• exercise regularly--Move!  Yes, keep moving and getting strong and boosting your mood and increasing flexibility!  There are so many benefits to regular exercise!  Do what you can.  There are all levels of exercises.  Pick the fun and doable ones, but also remember to keep challenging yourself as they become easier.
• eat healthfully--Yes!  Definitely eat healthy foods.  That doesn't mean you have to nix your favorite snacks.  Just make healthy eat a priority and have those treats now and then.

These are just some of the ways you can increase wellness.  Can you think of others?

I'd also like to talk about an article I read that I absolutely freakin' love!  It's called "Can Disability, Chronic Conditions, Health and Wellness Coexist?" by June Issaacson Kailes, MSW and LCSW.  It appears on the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (nchpad.org) website.  The following are just a few points made:

• A new definition of health where it is viewed as multi-dimensional and that optimal health is seen as defined within a given person's unique circumstances.
• Health is viewed as the maximizing of one's potential along various dimensions--balancing physical, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual factors. 
• Under this definition, disability is not a roadblock to maximizing health and potential.  

How cool is that?!!  You can do anything you want to within your capabilities.  No comparison to athletes, or "normal" people.  You do the best you can within your abilities.  You compete with yourself and no one else.  You are healthy!  

The article also poses questions needing to be addressed regarding exercise for people with disabilities, such as:

• Where people with disabilities go for fitness information that is relevant to their needs
• How should we exercise?
• How much?

Further, the article states that people with disabilities need:

•  exercise guidelines that are age and function-limited-sensitive
• universal equipment!!!!!  This equipment would be for everyone!!!  I am short so when I went to the gym there were machines that I couldn't use because I couldn't reach them, or even the recumbent bikes that, while low, were long so I could reach the pedals even after making adjustments.

I encourage you to read the article.  There is so much cool information in it.  I hope it's helpful to you.  

So!  Are you committed to wellness?  What are you going to do to increase wellness in your life?  What are you doing already from the list above?  Celebrate that!  I would love to hear what you're doing, and what your plans are, and what you think of the article.  

Email me at amy@acnlifecoach.com, or comment below.

Now, I may have a guest blogger on Friday.  If not, that will happen soon.  And, I will see you back here next week.  Have a great weekend and take care.

Vlog: Common Barriers to Participation in Society

Hi!  Today's vlog post is on common barriers to getting involved in community/society.  I talk about jobs, volunteering, transportation, entertainment, people's attitudes, your attitude, policies, services and more.  It is important to do all we can to break down the barriers we face to facilitate a productive and fulfilling life.  

Which of the barriers discussed have you encountered?  What did you do?  Did you give up or did you break them down?  Let me know either in the comments or email me at amy@acnlifecoach.com  Thanks!  Take care.

Vlog: Do You Play the Blame Game?

 Do you play the blame game?  Do you blame others for your health issues?  Do you blame your siblings for being healthy?  Do you blame your peers for leaving you out of activities? Do you blame employers for not giving you a chance?  

I have at various times over the years.  

It doesn't work.  It doesn't get you anywhere.

Take action.  Take responsibility for your self-care.  Be your own advocate.  Provide information.  Let people know what you can and can't do.  Communication is huge.  

So, do you blame others for your health issues, or do you take responsibility for getting out there and doing what needs to be done in order to educate people about your needs and abilities?

I'd love to hear from you.  

Coaching Niches: How I Came To Choose Special Needs/Abilities and Friendship (Part 1)

There are many coaching niches: career, ADHD, stay-at-home moms, relationships...on and on.  When I went searching for ideas, I couldn't believe the variety.  But none jumped out at me; none felt right.  So, I turned to myself and what I had experience in and a passion for.  First, I came up with special needs, and fitness, then fitness was replaced by friendship.  So, now I have two unique niches that I am knowledgeable in and passionate about.  Perfect!  Here's how I chose them, starting with special needs.  Friendship will be covered in part 2.

Special Needs/Abilities

As I've mentioned before, I was born with spina bifida.  I've dealt with health issues all my life.  I know what it's like to deal with the medical world.  It can be daunting and demoralizing.  It can also be inspiring and celebratory.  For example, meeting doctors who care enough to fight for you every step of the way, or those who celebrate your little victories to help keep your spirits up through the long process of recovery laced with setbacks.  And then there are the family members and friends who never give up on you, no matter how many times you are sick with an infection, or have to have surgery, or complain about the crappy hand you were dealt.  It is a tough road, no question about it.  But, I've been able to navigate the medical maze that is part of my lifestyle with a fair amount of success, and I wanted to help others do the same. 

I'd always wanted to help people in some way.  I started out with the idea of studying English with aspirations of being a writer.  I thought I would write articles that would shed light on the special needs community, point out where improvements could be made regarding perceptions of those with health issues, and write books featuring characters with special needs.  But I nixed that and switched to psychology, then I switched to developmental disabilities, then sociology.  Then I turned off that road to study business but always worked in offices geared toward helping others such as social service agencies and educational programs. 

 In the early 1990s, I started my own typing and design business (combining my two loves of writing and art) that I ran from home.  I was still helping people but in a different way.  For the first few years, I still worked in offices through a temp service, but then in 1996, I went home-based full-time, and that's the way it's been ever since.  It was so much easier to manage my health care schedule while working at home as opposed to having to trek to an office in the city each day.  I had moderate success with that business and had fun designing the products: resumes, manuscripts, note cards, address labels, and the like.  It wasn't until 2007 that I closed up shop on that venture.  That's when we moved to Utah.

That move spurred big changes in me. I learned to navigate the streets in a city bigger than any I'd ever driven in before.  A huge accomplishment considering I had always been petrified of driving even on country roads.  I also joined a gym, lost 25 pounds and was in the best shape of my life.  I was so impressed with the trainers, my experience, and my results that I decided to get certified as a personal trainer myself.  Many of the trainers at the gym where I worked out were supportive of my decision, helping me study for the exam, asking for updates, cheering me on.  It felt great.

Then I stumbled.  The manager of the gym seemed willing to hire me as a trainer there, but I hadn't applied yet. He kept asking me when I was going to apply.  I said I was going to wait until I got back from a trip back east to visit family.  Why I waited, I have no idea.  This had become a bad habit of mine over the years.  Well, by the time I got back from that trip, that manager was gone.  He'd moved up north to open his own business.  I didn't realize the gravity of my mistake until I applied at the gym and didn't get an interview.  I applied three different times at that gym and several others around town, got a couple interviews at other facilities, but was not hired.  I don't know the actual reason why I wasn't hired, but I have a feeling it was partly due to the fact that I didn't have experience and also didn't fit the cookie-cutter image of the svelte, young, healthy trainer.  Even though many people had told me they would rather work with someone who looked less intimidating and closer to their age, gym managers seemed to have other ideas.  The lesson I took from that was, never, ever pass up a reasonable opportunity that lands in your lap.  I did end up working remotely for that manager friend who had believed in me, blogging and providing customer service for his company. It was something fitness-related at least.

My final fitness position was as a coach for participants of a weight loss drug study.  That lasted almost three years.  I enjoyed coaching the participants who took the time to check in with me, but it was part-time and, honestly, not the type of thing I wanted to do long-term.  After five years of trying to establish myself in the fitness industry, I had had enough.  My heart wasn't in it anymore.  I gained back the weight I'd lost, I was discouraged that nothing I tried seemed to last.  Not knowing what else to do, I wrote content for websites.

Next, I looked into master's degree programs in psychology and certificate programs in play therapy, considering one of my original plans.  Well, the information I found indicated that I would probably have to take a heap of psychology courses to start, since I hadn't taken many in college years earlier, then I'd have to get my master's degrees in psychology or related field, and then get certified in play therapy, plus licencing exams, etc, etc.  It added up to almost 10 years of education when all was said and done.  I was 50 at the time.  There was no way I was going to invest all that time and money for a career that might last 10 years, tops.  If I had gone for it in my 30s, sure.  But I wasn't prepared to take on such a big project in my 50s.  It's doable, for sure.  There are people who tackle it in their 70s and 80s.  It just wasn't something I was willing to take on.  

Then in 2014, I heard about life coaching.  Curious, I did some research.  It sounded perfect for me.  I could get certified in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable fee, and work at home helping people!  I was over the moon.  I loved the study materials, the practice coaching, and meeting other coaches who had the same passion for helping others that I did.  

When it came time to choose my niche, one popped into my head immediately:  special needs.  I added "abilities" to it as well because I wanted to key on the positive; what clients can do, rather than what they can't.  By focusing on special needs/abilities coaching, I am able to bring all the knowledge and experience I've gained throughout my life to each session in order to help guide people with health issues as they navigate the sometimes confusing, sometimes frightening medical world.  But not only that.  I provide guidance to clients dealing with societal issues as well.  There are those in the world at large who sometimes forget that we're all human, including those with special needs; we're all able to contribute to society in a variety of ways, big and small, and we should be respectfully allowed to do so to our full potential.    

Always keep a look out for opportunities you view as potentially rewarding and fulfilling. Grab them, and hold on tight.

Making Choices: It's Been Awhile, but I'm Back

Whoa!  It's been awhile since I've posted here.  It's been a trying, confusing, exciting, and rewarding couple of years.  Here's what happened, in a nutshell.
---- Do you get the feeling that you've hit on something really special?  You've finally found your calling?  But then, life happens?  That calling comes and you're raring to go and then---boom!  One thing after another comes along and delays that jump full force into this project, this thing, this life that you have been waiting for.  I spent two years consumed with other things, not blogging or coaching.  There were times when I longed to blog, but as I got further and further away from it, it was harder to get back to it.  Now I wish I had documented the events of those two years.  It would have been fun and also educational to look back on them.  It was a time of growth and adventure that I won't forget.

In August of 2015, our high school exchange student, Naja, arrived from Denmark to stay with us for the 2015-16 school year.  At first, I made time for blogging.  One post in early August of that year, then another in early September.  Then...nothing.  I made a conscious choice to concentrate on our exchange year experience, not on business or blogging.  I wanted to dive in and fully experience those 10 months, not be absent.  Live it, breathe it, feel it deeply.  Every part of it.

I understand where people are coming from when they are torn.  I love writing.  I love life coaching.  My business had already been put on the back burner shortly after getting my life coach certification the previous year when my mother came to stay with us for a bit.  She had had a stroke at the beginning of 2014 and could no longer live alone.  She lived with my sister at the time, but that sister needed to have surgery.  She asked if we (my husband and me) could take care of Mom for a couple of months while she recovered, which we did.  Although it was heartbreaking to see the changes the stroke had caused in Mom, we had a lot of fun during her visit:  reminiscing, going out for ice cream, hiking, playing games, and painting.

But we went ahead with hosting Naja.  We needed to go for what felt right in our guts, and this felt right.  

I dove into the role of host parent.  I drove Naja to and from school daily, braved the throngs of teen drivers navigating the streets near the school, and thanked my lucky stars each time I arrived home in one piece.  I have never been particularly fond of driving, but it was a whole different ball game with a 16-year-old riding with me.  That bumped up the pressure of responsibility just a tad.  It was one thing to drive myself around, but to be responsible for a teen, besides; someone else's child?  Yow!  Her parents had consented to allow their daughter to travel across the world to live with us, trusting us to keep her safe and well for 10 months.  I nearly broke out in hives the first day of school. 

Life seemed to go 110 miles an hour once Naja joined us and settled in.  We took her to many of the parks and sites in Utah, where we live, and the surrounding area.  She made lots of amazing friends, so there were often other teens coming and going, or we were driving her to a friend's house or school event.  It was: go, go, go for 10 months.  We had a blast!  

Then, it was over.  Her parents came in May of 2016 and stayed with us for 10 days.  We had so much fun.  They are lovely people and the time went so fast.  We didn't want it to end.  But it was time.  When we waved goodbye to them at the airport, we didn't quite know what to do.  We stood in the terminal kind of shell shocked for a bit. The fact that the year was over brought on both feelings of sadness and, admittedly, relief.  Naja was fantastic.  She was intelligent, witty, sweet, never got into trouble--no problem.  But we don't have children of our own, so when Naja arrived we were instantly responsible for a teen.  We didn't have 16 years to get ready for this exciting and challenging time in her life, as parents who raise a child from birth do.  So we were in a whole different world and learning as we went along.  It was very challenging and stressful at times.  So when she left there was that relief of not having the huge responsibility for her.  That said, it also was one of the most rewarding, exciting, and fun experiences we've had.

Before Naja left, I had all sorts of plans of what to do when the exchange year was over.  I was going to start my coaching business, join a local book club as well as a social club, write for online publications, volunteer all over the community, blog, and so on.  But I hadn't realized how tired I was.  Instead of jumping into all these activities, I slept.  And slept, and slept.  And when I was awake I just kind of went about daily chores as if on auto pilot.  Life was so different!  The house felt empty and was so quiet.  

I lost feeling for all things.  A wall went up around me.  I had a feeling of total disorganization and ineptitude that left me seemingly frozen in place.  I couldn't seem to get myself out of this funk.  For someone who had always prided herself on being organized, I was a mess.  I didn't know which end was up, I didn't know what to do.  I couldn't seem to get enthused about anything that I had, not that long before, been excited about.  I didn't join any clubs, I didn't exercise much, I didn't volunteer, I didn't write, I didn't coach.  It was bizarre.

It didn't help matters that I had bouts with sickness (colds, flu), foot, knee and shoulder trouble (old injuries that came back to haunt me), and as a result, weight gain.  I also had more time to think about Mom once Naja left.  She was so different after the stroke.  She still had that beautiful smile and positive attitude, but part of the old Mom was gone.  She couldn't do a lot of the things she used to love to do:  garden, read, hike.  She was always very active.  Seriously, she could out-walk anyone half her age, even in her 80s.  And we used to talk for hours on the phone, whereas 5- to 10-minute calls were now the norm.  I sort of felt abandoned and lost without my mom.  

I've worked through these feelings and problems.  I've done a lot of thinking; looking inside. I've done a lot of reading on the topic of parent illness, dementia, getting organized, life change, and parent loss.  I've gained comfort from my husband and dear friends.  It still frustrates me at times, but I know that I'm stronger for these experiences.

And now, I'm back.  I'm looking forward to blogging again on a regular basis--I'm planning on blogging once a week to start.  

Have you had to put something on the back burner that you were excited about to do something else that was important as well?  Comment below, or send me an email at amy@acnlifecoach.com.  I'd love to hear from you. 

Abilities Coaching: What'cha Think?

With the talk of labels in Monday's post, Stick Your Neck Out From the Wolf Pack, I got to thinking about my special needs coaching service.  Do I really want that to be the name of it?  "Special needs" is a label, and one that makes others stick out when maybe they wouldn't appreciate it.  I know that when I was younger especially, I wanted nothing more than to fit in, not stick out.  But do we really stick out when we're dealing with health issues?  After all, we all have special needs when it comes right down to it.  Each of us has our own special requirements to be happy, live healthfully, and spur us on toward our dreams.  People don't have to have health issues to have special needs.  We're all special.

I hadn't stopped to think when I chose the label.  People use it all the time to describe individuals who have chronic health issues due to birth defects and other problems.  It's just another label for people who are born with or develop disorders, disabilities, syndromes and the like; similar to "retarded," "handicapped," "crippled," and "mentally or physically challenged," which have been used over the years to discribe the same segment of the population. 

So, if I don't want to call my service "special needs coaching," what should I call it?  I bounced several ideas around in my head--difficulties coaching, support coaching and the like.  But those didn't quite fit the bill either.  Then it hit me--Abilities Coaching!  Okay, so everyone has abilities, but this would be my "label" for the type of coaching focused on helping people who have chronic health issues concentrate on finding, embracing and celebrating their abilities; concentrating on what these individuals can do rather than what they can't do.  

So, did I nail it?  Is this a keeper?  Do you have any other suggestions on what's better to call this coaching service?  Do you think it's a mistake to change it?  Let me hear your suggestions and views on the issue.  Thanks!  I hope you're having a great week.